by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in South Carolina, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **28** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 28 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Our analysis found Clemson University to be the best college in South Carolina. This public school is set in Clemson, SC. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,834. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at University Of South Carolina Columbia earned it the #2 place in South Carolina. Located in Columbia, SC, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $54,087. Graduates carry a median of $24,472 in student loans.
Out of the 28 colleges in South Carolina in this year's ranking, Furman University landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Greenville, SC. About 79% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $59,770 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $36,520. Furman University students take on a median of $23,764 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Medical University Of South Carolina, which ranked #4 this year. Medical University Of South Carolina is a public school based in Charleston, SC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,972, with out-of-state students paying around $30,380. Graduates go on to earn a median of $89,719 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $29,043 in student loans.
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in South Carolina. Located in Charleston, SC, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a public institution. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina graduates 75% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,570 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,508. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,909 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $24,305.
Wofford College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Spartanburg, SC, Wofford College is a private not-for-profit institution. Wofford College posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. In-state tuition and fees average $56,005. Wofford College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,052. Students borrow a median of $24,643 to complete a degree here.
College Of Charleston came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Set in Charleston, SC, College Of Charleston is a public institution. College Of Charleston graduates 66% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,978, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,222. Typical student debt is $24,733.
Presbyterian College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Clinton, SC, Presbyterian College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $44,910. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,393. Typical student debt is $25,803.
Anderson University Sc landed the #9 spot in South Carolina this year. Set in Anderson, SC, Anderson University Sc is a private not-for-profit institution. Anderson University Sc posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. In-state tuition and fees average $34,970. Anderson University Sc graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,036. Graduates carry a median of $28,034 in student loans.
University Of South Carolina Upstate did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Spartanburg, SC, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a public institution. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,588, while out-of-state students pay about $23,090. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,473 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete a degree here.
Winthrop University placed #11 among the best colleges in South Carolina. Set in Rock Hill, SC, Winthrop University is a public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,678, with out-of-state students paying around $28,676. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,378. Graduates carry a median of $27,040 in student loans.
Coastal Carolina University landed the #12 spot in South Carolina this year. Coastal Carolina University is a public school based in Conway, SC. About 48% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,640, with out-of-state students paying around $29,628. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,272 early in their careers. Coastal Carolina University students take on a median of $27,174 in debt.
Erskine College And Seminary ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Due West, SC, Erskine College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,710. Early-career graduates earn a median of $35,695. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Newberry College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Newberry, SC, Newberry College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $31,100 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,702 early in their careers. The median student debt is $27,729.
University Of South Carolina Aiken landed the #15 spot in South Carolina this year. University Of South Carolina Aiken is a public school based in Aiken, SC. University Of South Carolina Aiken graduates 40% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,760 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,218. Median early-career earnings reach $42,220. Students borrow a median of $27,011 to complete a degree here.
Columbia International University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Columbia, SC, Columbia International University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,900. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $32,296. Students borrow a median of $21,667 to complete a degree here.
North Greenville University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Tigerville, SC, North Greenville University is a private not-for-profit institution. North Greenville University graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,800. Median early-career earnings reach $42,864. Typical student debt is $24,128.
Lander University landed the #18 spot in South Carolina this year. Lander University is a public school based in Greenwood, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,700, with out-of-state students paying around $21,300. Median early-career earnings reach $37,548. The median student debt is $26,064.
Charleston Southern University did well this year, earning the #19 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Charleston, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,520. Median early-career earnings reach $46,288. Graduates carry a median of $27,569 in student loans.
Southern Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Set in Central, SC, Southern Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southern Wesleyan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,800. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,539. Southern Wesleyan University students take on a median of $31,554 in debt.
University Of South Carolina Beaufort landed the #21 spot in South Carolina this year. University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a public school based in Bluffton, SC. University Of South Carolina Beaufort graduates 34% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,730, while out-of-state students pay about $21,776. Median early-career earnings reach $38,254. University Of South Carolina Beaufort students take on a median of $27,971 in debt.
Columbia College South Carolina came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set in Columbia, SC, Columbia College South Carolina is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. Students from in state pay about $20,054 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $48,339. Columbia College South Carolina students take on a median of $28,158 in debt.
Francis Marion University placed #23 among the best colleges in South Carolina. This public school is set in Florence, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,170, while out-of-state students pay about $21,544. Median early-career earnings reach $41,456. Students borrow a median of $30,577 to complete a degree here.
Converse College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in Spartanburg, SC, Converse College is a private not-for-profit institution. Converse College posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Students from in state pay about $25,240 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,940. Students borrow a median of $26,715 to complete a degree here.
Spartanburg Methodist College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Spartanburg, SC. In-state tuition and fees average $20,650. Median early-career earnings reach $14,509. Spartanburg Methodist College students take on a median of $12,000 in debt.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.